Henry Elden OBIT - NY Daily RecordCHARLESTON, W.Va.—Charleston architect Henry T. Elden, whose circular hillside home drew national attention, has died. He was 94.
Elden's son, Ted Elden, says his father died Saturday at Top-O-Rock, the glass-and-steel home he designed and built on a Charleston hillside in 1968.
Top-O-Rock has been featured in Parade magazine and on HGTV's "Dream Builders" program.
Elden designed more than 800 buildings across the state, including schools, post offices, hospitals, and the Vining Library at West Virginia UniversityTech.
He was born in Pennsylvania and was a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. He came to Charleston to take a job as an engineer at Union Carbide and started his architecture business in 1948.
Henry Elden: Designed & built 800+ projects around W. Va., about $ 450 million total value. Photos of Top O Rock Charleston, WVa
Everyone it seems knows about TOP O ROCK the incredible home located in Kanawha City. It was featured last year on HGTV this home retains it ability to take away your breath.
Elden's son, Ted Elden, says his father died Saturday at Top-O-Rock, the glass-and-steel home he designed and built on a Charleston hillside in 1968.
Top-O-Rock has been featured in Parade magazine and on HGTV's "Dream Builders" program.
Elden designed more than 800 buildings across the state, including schools, post offices, hospitals, and the Vining Library at West Virginia UniversityTech.
He was born in Pennsylvania and was a graduate of Carnegie Mellon University. He came to Charleston to take a job as an engineer at Union Carbide and started his architecture business in 1948.
Henry Elden: Designed & built 800+ projects around W. Va., about $ 450 million total value. Photos of Top O Rock Charleston, WVa
Everyone it seems knows about TOP O ROCK the incredible home located in Kanawha City. It was featured last year on HGTV this home retains it ability to take away your breath.
It was built by Henry Elden. he died in January, we recently learned the home will soon be sold. This home has so many light sources - it would be a great home in which to display BLENKO or other American Glass. We must remember to ask son Ted if the family used Blenko tableware in the home. hjh
33 comments:
Five maybe seven years or more ago as a group of tourist at a Lewisburg meeting we drove to Charleston as guest of Otis Laury and did a tour of this home. Mr Elden was gracious and the home was beginning to show signs of age but design wise it was still a show piece and the view - million dollar view.
I'd love to a piece of this rock. What were they selling?
Hilly
I went to this sell with my aunt and mom
Saw some few blenko items, not much in the way of glass art was on sale.
Sol
many ceramic pieces some furniture you would like and a pull weighted lite from the 70s -hanging- this one had your name on it.
Sol
Sol
I also went, and you are very correct. The orange 'star war' chair and that light were the 2 items I coveted.
Everything was beautiful. Purple Moon material most every item!
A group of 23 people from the Barboursville area drove up thanks to your post - no other announcement here.
Elden's son was very charming, great prices and the setting was so o o o o o beautiful!
I agree Blenko or colorful glass from Italy would have been at home in this setting.
Lucky me later 3 of us flew in for this
we bought a few things
thought we were going to be purchasing art work and furniture
When will these items be sold?
I was floored to learn of this sale by a flyer posted on a grocery store bulletin board. Discovered the flyer on Friday - was at the house by 8:15 Sat. morning. However I'm glad it wasn't publicised, it would have been a madhouse.
I saw maybe 2-3 pieces of Blenko, most was already sold. With Mrs. Elden being a designer, and Mr. Elden an architect, I'd say it's a safe bet they used Blenko to its best advantage.
I grew up in the valley, and I was thrilled with the opportunity to see inside after admiring the home since my first childhood glimpse. I even returned later with my 12 year old daughter, whom I think scaled every horizontal surface. It was a thrill to see the home, and I'll be returning to try and land a piece of furniture next weekend. I figure any piece of furniture will have added value with a provenance of photographs inside this famous house.
The cost of the home is quite low, in my opinion. It does need some repair, but it's easily worth 1-2 times the cost Mr. Elden quoted.
Hilly
What cost did he quote?
Sol
The wife and I made the 5 hour drive down decided to spend the weekend, bought a few items, the home was as nice as I remembered.
I wonder if this could be duplicated?
Is there anyone today with the vision, the talent, the connection to take on such a project?
I think not. Elden was one of a kind. Young Elden seems to be a chip off the same oak.
Thanks to you Dr Hilary for sharing this event.
We also want to know about price and price for the furniture. We were to proper to inquire.
This is a 'piece of the rock' I'd love to call my own.
West Virginia is not a place I would have thought of living - however, this home is spectacular.
Please do write about cost, when its available
and also can you post photos of furniture (modern?) being offered for sale? Office - Vintage?
My cup of tea.
Phani I can't go for this sale but you should. The ability to take photos is this setting may never happen again. WV Jans and others who photo should also go.
8 of us came down from the ironton - ashland area saturday late afternoon for this after reading your blog.
ate at soho and window shopped IVORS he was closed (sad me)
Hilary the house was unknown to us.
Honest! I am now reading everything about it and telling everyone. We moved here almost a decade or more ago - how did I miss this bit of history?
PS you are correct Blenko
Husted lamps or floor vases would have been great in the orange
in this home.
WOW! If I were within 5,000 miles of this place I'd be there.
Buildings are amongst my favorite pieces of art.
This one is a beauty.
Hillary you are full of surprises!
That little state produces many unique creations, this home has to be considered a WV Treasure.
My thanks to the photographer for the photos and to your for sharing with blog readers.
Bridgett,
I am afraid the sale may be over.
Could anyone tell me if the sale is still going on till the next weekend? Is any blenko available?
Phani
To Everyone
Thank you for attending and commenting!
To P
There was very little decorative glass in the sale.
my interpretation of B's word was
take photos of furniture and the home.
I dun no if the home will be open again.
We'll ask - and post the answer here.
hjh
Hilary
The Eldens were friends with my husband and I. Business friends of my husband for over 30 years.
Nicer people god did not make.
Dr Bob I must agree Henry was a visonary in many areas. He marched always to his own drummer.
Margie Hale
Interesting home - that.
To A... I miss you. Come here to Cle. Love. J.
DID YOU READ THE WRITING OF THE SON? CAN YOU IMAGINE IN YOUR DREAMS ANYONE WHO WOULD THINK THE GOVT IS NOT 100% HONEST
OR THE NEWSPAPERS DONT TELL THE TRUTH
I AM LAUGHING MY A OFF.
HEY WE MOVED TO THIS MOUNTAIN IN WV FOR JUST THOSE REASONS.
MORE POWER TO YOU, ONE THING I YOU WILL LEARN LIKE THE LOVE OF A GOOD GOD PEOPLE WILL SEE THIS
ONLY WHEN THEY ARE IN NEED OF THE TRUTH
OR READY TO SEE THE TRUTH!
MOUNTAIN RITA
OF COURSE I AM NOT INCLUDING THE HUNTINGTON HERALD IN MY REMARK ABOUT NEWSPAPERS THAT TELL LIES
MS HILARY FYI
MOUNTAIN RITA
Hilary
Did you see Ted E's home it is called baby rock or something similar was on HGTV here in Atlanta
last year and in 2004 I think
we drove up to see the home in 07. Both father and son were extremely welcoming.
Clarence U.
great architecture and design ..
Ram
Discovered your blog a month ago
and since then I have discoveed many new places in West Virginia.
We did the yard sale er inside the glass house sale with the energizer bunny (Ted). House was amazing blast into the 70s bright orange - faded everywhere.
I saw no starburst clocks, or nelson lamps for your Ohio apt but did view a number of chairs you might want. If you didn't go/ phone T he was anxious to move on.
Good luck and thank you for the heads up on this one.
By the way we saw no Blenko
QUESTION FOR YOU OR WAYNE HUSTED
DID HUSTED AND HENRY ELDEN EVER MEET?
THIS HOUSE AND HUSTED WOULD BE A PERFECT UNION.
ANYONE ELSE THINK SO?
MOUNTAIN RITA
Doctor Bob:
Sweet! Yes, there are 2 bar stools (petite in size), and then the orange - what I call Star War chairs - I'd like only one please!
Problem is my budget - my poverty is the only thing standing between me and these items.
Bob did you by chance notice the weighted hanging light? A perfect example of modern lighting.
hjh
Hilary
Saturday we didn't haggle with the son about price, we saw other ask him to lower prices and he did.
Phone him up and ask about the items you want. What do you have to loose?
You don't know this man or his family and you'll never see them again they are moving right?
He obviously wants to sell, you want to buy, and if he is sentimental he might like the concept of a young woman with passion for the 60s furnishings.
I can give you for free 10 lessons on the art of haggling if you want?
Phone the family, you are local, you value the origin of the item.
Don't wait and buy it from a vendor.
Act now. Face your fear. I will send photos to the email of what we bought
mostly ceramics and a piece of art.
I keep checking back for a price on this home.
Alex
Susan and I were there on sat but would return for furniture
can you obtain a price list or/ and date
can we pay on line?
Long drive.
When is the furniture sale
and what is the asking price of the home
Who is the realator?
Jeffrey Mayer
Back again to ask about the furniture do you have info about this sale?
http://www.dailymail.com/News/Kanawha/200904070035?page=2&build=cache
Returned for info about the house sale?
My friend Bob Harris said
the deal about the danish furniture is
one emails Elden with the price they want to pay and
then he takes the top price
kinda like sealed bids.
Barbra Diehl
Nitro
Spoke with Ted Elden
who said:
I do not know of any sealed bid or any plan on the furniture at this time.
. . . . . . . . . .
Readers my suggestion is to check the newspaper for ads etc.
There are currently no plans to sell furniture. HJH
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